Bonjour! French for Beginners (Grades 5-8)

Introduce your learner to French words and phrases with weekly French for Beginners classes. Learning a language is a great way to appreciate other cultures and regions, as well as to develop better grammar and communication skills in your primary language, too. In small groups led by expert instructors, students will learn and practice speaking, reading, writing, and listening in French as they explore a new theme each month. That allows learners to join for a month at a time for a petit look at the language, or join several months in a row to learn French beaucoup (a lot). Monthly themes include: August: Greetings & Getting Around. Students will learn how French-language conversations begin and end, how to give and understand directions, and the language of getting around–a perfect set of skills for visiting France someday! September: Family, Food, & Feelings. Students will learn how to describe friends and family members, how to identify and order food, and how to express emotions in French. After all, no trip to France would be complete without sampling the cuisine, and that experience requires many adjectives to describe happiness and joy. October: Shapes, Colors, Letters, & Numbers. These concepts are the building blocks of any language, and this month students will break down these essentials of the French language and learn the songs and mnemonics that native-speaking children use when learning these fundamentals, too. November: Hobbies, Activities, & Clothing. This month students will learn how to describe their favorite activities and pastimes in French: they’ll learn a little bit about verb conjugation and sentence structure along the way, but the whole time they’ll just be focused on the jouissance (enjoyment). December: Calendars & Celebrations. Students will learn how to find and describe holidays on the calendar as well as how to discuss and partake in their celebrations. January: Travel & Geography. Students will learn the words and phrases they’ll need to travel in a French-speaking country, including how to ask for and give directions, how to describe their surroundings, and how to talk about important landmarks. February: School & Work. Students will learn how to talk about their school work and parents’ jobs, including what they’re studying, what they find difficult or interesting, and what they’d like to be when they grow up. March: Shopping & Stores. Students will learn how to shop for the essentials, like food, clothing, and beverages. They’ll learn a little about numbers and money words as well as how to describe what they’re looking for to a store clerk. April: Routines, Chores, & Daily Activities. This month, students will talk about things they do everyday, whether that’s brushing their teeth and getting ready for school or eating breakfast and walking the dog. They’ll learn a little about verb conjugation and tenses, too! May: Sports & Entertainment. Students will learn how to talk about action, whether that’s kicking a soccer ball or watching a movie in theaters with friends. This is a great time to learn ordering words like “then” and “after,” as well as an excuse to talk about their latest favorite shows – in French, of course! June: Summer Plans. This month students will learn how to describe their favorite summer activities, whether that’s lounging by a pool or the beach or hiking while away at summer camp. They’ll also learn useful words for talking about the weather and how to order a cold, tasty treat. Course Expectations: Varsity Tutors clients expect to see and hear their instructor on video for the entire duration of the course. All instructors must have reliable internet connection and adhere to the pre-planned course schedule. Most Successful instructors support interactive courses and do not include a lot of independent work and/or practice tests during the session.